Dr. Jarred Younger, PhD, lead researcher last year on a series of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) studies for female fibromyalgia patients at Stanford, is working hard to get funding from private donors and the NIH for a more powerful, definitive study that might lead to FDA approval of the drug for FM. (For background, see Dr. Mercola’s article: “Low-Dose Naltrexone for Autoimmune Diseases and Fibromyalgia? The Unfinished Story.”) LDN is generic, inexpensive, and sold in such low doses that pharmaceutical companies don't consider trials worth funding.

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Study Suggests Fibromyalgia Is Inflammatory

There is considerable disagreement about whether fibromyalgia is an inflammatory disease or not. FM specialists say anti-inflammatory drugs appear less effective in reducing pain than in typical inflammatory conditions, and the tissue damage typical of inflammation may not be evident. But is inflammation somehow a factor nonetheless? This study ("Inflammatory/Stress Feedback Dysregulation in Women with Fibromyalgia") reports finding multiple markers of inflammation in every one of 25 FM patients tested, vs. healthy controls. They also discuss whether dysregulation of the stress response causes the inflammation, or vice versa.

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'High Test' Capsaicin May Help Nerve Pain Much More

Researchers have learned that topically applied capsaicin (the compound that makes the 'heat' in chili peppers) helps pain by selectively disconnecting the pain signaling (TRPV1-expressing) nerve terminals in the skin. Now new studies in human volunteers suggest higher doses safely do a more thorough job of it, and they suggest a move to trials for therapeutic use. (See "Capsaicin for Neuropathic Pain: Linking Traditional Medicine and Molecular Biology.")

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Vote to Win $ to Equip Vancouver Chronic Diseases Clinic

You don’t have to live in Canada to give the new Vancouver Chronic Diseases Clinic a boost. The Aviva Community Giving contest is like Chase Giving: You can vote through Oct 15 if you’re a registered Facebook member (http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf13624). They will use any winnings to purchase testing equipment for fibromyalgia, MCS, ME/CFS, and Lyme patients.

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Red Cross Appears to 'Believe In' Chronic Lyme

As some have commented, many doctors don't believe there's such a thing as chronic Lyme, but apparently the Red Cross does. The Red Cross donation eligibility guidelines state: “Accept persons with Lyme disease if they were treated, the disease resolved and at least 1 year has passed. Those with chronic Lyme disease are not eligible to donate blood.”

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An Apple (Peel) a Day Takes the Fat Away

Thanks to a daily dose of ursolic acid (the amount found in the peel of just two apples) animals fed a high fat diet both increased muscle mass (which boosts calorie burning) and increased the good calorie-burning brown fat. The result was they gained less weight than the control group, and their blood sugar improved.

The study report states: “Ursolic acid is highly concentrated in the skin of apples, and can now be added to the growing list of natural compounds (including green tea and green coffee bean extracts) that increase metabolism and directly influence gene expression to aid weight management and health issues."

Regarding ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, "all roads lead to B12" Dr. Myatt reports in a research paper citing more than 220 sources. Whatever the mechanism(s) driving FM, ME/CFS, and other 'multi-system' diseases (from Rich VanK's Methylation Cycle block to Dr. Pall's dysregulated Nitric Oxide cycle), she explains that B-12 deficiencies appear to play a role in them all.

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US Physical Therapists to Review ME/CFS Primer

Some 9,000 members of the American Physical Therapy Association will have an opportunity on Jan 22 to learn about the important role they can play in flagging patients with possible ME/CFS - and in helping to make sure they're properly managed. Several co-authors of the IACFS/ME's free new ME/CFS Primer for Clinical Practitioners will be featured speakers at the APTA annual conference in San Diego. will review its relevance for physical therapy and rehab professionals. The 42-page Primer is available for download or printing at http://www.iacfsme.org/Portals/0/PDF/PrimerFinal3.pdf. Your donation welcomed at www.iacfsme.org).

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Dr. Byron Hyde to Speak October 27 in Boston

Byron Hyde, MD, will speak at the Massachusetts CFIDS/ME & FM Association's Fall 2012 Educational Meeting on Saturday, October 27 (12:30 to 4:00 pm). Dr. Hyde is Founder and Director of the Nightingale Research Foundation in Ottawa, Canada. For more information and directions, and to pre-register, go to http://www.masscfids.org.

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FM: "A Syndrome of Dysfunctional Pain"

Nancy Walsh, MedPage Today reporter at the European Congress of Rheumatology in Berlin, wrote up an interview with prominent French rheumatologist Serge Perrot on current thinking about fibromyalgia. He admits, most "rheumatologists will tell you that fibromyalgia is a psychological disorder. But if you are like me, in a clinic with pain patients.... Isay to my patient that fibromyalgia is real...it's mainly a pain disorder with dysfunctional pain. Pain completely wrongly modulated."

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The Mikovits November 7 Online Radio 'Tell All'

“In Short Order” radio host Sue Vogan announces that her Sunday, November 4 BlogTalkRadio feature will be an interview with Dr. Judy Mikovits. The title: "Judy Mikovits, PhD - For the first time, you will hear the whole story."

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New MCS Resources and Forums

An information-packed MCS America Newsletter for September includes links to some new MCS support forums and many other resources for people with chemical sensitivities (pages 7, 8, and 9).

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Note: This information has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is general information and is not intended to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure any illness, condition or disease. It is very important that you make no change in your healthcare plan or health support regimen without researching and discussing it in collaboration with your professional healthcare team.